PowerToys not using Microsoft store for new update

[szhu25]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.47.1

Running as admin

• Yes

Area(s) with issue?

General

Steps to reproduce

1. Install PowerToys from Windows 11 Store
2. Wait until new PowerToys release available on GitHub
3. PowerToys will prompt you to download and install update through installer, instead of Microsoft Store.

✔️ Expected Behavior

PowerToys will display a notification on "New update available", then direct user to download/seek PowerToys update through Microsoft Store.

❌ Actual Behavior

PowerToys will download installer through GitHub instead of going through Microsoft Store. After upgrade, PowerToys will show as a Windows Desktop application instead of an application installed through Microsoft Store (aka on Microsoft Store, it will no longer show as "installed").

Other Software

No response

[szhu25]

Just saw this comment from #413. This probably isn't a bug after all (for now)

[franky920920]

Yeah, Indeed. We're updating PowerToys through the program itself even if installed via the store.

[bmcclure]

What seems odd to me is that the Windows Store doesn't remember that PowerToys is installed. Even if it didn't offer updates directly through the store, it would be nice if it at least showed up in my list of apps in the store and had some indication on the app listing page that I already have it installed instead of simply having a green "Install" button again. I was sure this was a bug until I read this and the linked issue.

[szhu25]

@bmcclure It's because everytime PowerToys execute their update program, they utilized "Uninstall old version" and "Install new version" from the installer instead of a in-place upgrade via Microsoft Store. I think this is by design but still a bit annoyed by the fact. I'll keep this open because I feel like it's still a bug, but probably not anything severe to warrant a fix immediately.

[crutkas]

this is expected behavior

[crutkas]

win32 apps can't use their update system

[LasseRosenow]

win32 apps can't use their update system

Then how does firefox do it? (It is definitely being updated by the store.)

I think what you mean is unpackaged win32 Apps. Because they could be packaged as msix and thus use the auto update system of the store.

[crutkas]

They use their own update system and chances are don’t need to a UAC on update. We are proactively tweaking things so we can do a silent upgrade. Our big blocker is UAC prompt due to a few things. The new bootstrapper was a massive tweak to improve the experience and help do the underpinnings for work.

[AkazaRenn]

They use their own update system and chances are don’t need to a UAC on update. We are proactively tweaking things so we can do a silent upgrade. Our big blocker is UAC prompt due to a few things. The new bootstrapper was a massive tweak to improve the experience and help do the underpinnings for work.

I believe what he meant was the Mozilla Firefox on Microsoft Store, it is MSIX packaged.